Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for July
Legislative Action Committee to Hear From Representative Ward
Congressman Shuster to Speak at August “Breakfast Club”
Chamber Seeking Fall Interns
Healthy Blair County Coalition , ABCD Conducting Needs Assessment
Informational Meeting on China Trip is August 25th
Still Time to Register for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise
Backbone Bash is August 21st at Park Hills Golf Club
Blue Card DiscountsChamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for JulyThe Blair County Chamber’s ability to offer quality programming, events, recognition and advocacy efforts depends largely on the willingness of sponsors to step up to help underwrite the costs associated those efforts. So at the end of each month, we publish a list of businesses or individuals who sponsored anything Chamber-related during the month. They have helped us to make a difference in the business community. For July, those sponsors were: Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries and Home Helpers.Legislative Action Committee to Hear From Representative WardState Representative Judy Ward, who less than a year ago was a member of the Blair County Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, will pay a visit to that committee on Thursday to provide an update on issues affecting the business community. Any Chamber Member interested in attending the meeting should contact Joe Hurd by noon on Tuesday at 943-8151.

Congressman Shuster to Speak at August “Breakfast Club”Congressman Bill Shuster will be the keynote speaker at the next Blair County Chamber “Breakfast Club,” scheduled for Friday, August 14th at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The format of the Congressman’s remarks will be a Q&A session with questions being submitted in advance from within the Chamber Membership. Richard Fiore, Jr., who chairs the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, will ask the questions. “With so many important issues that impact business facing this Congress, it’s appropriate that we would have the Congressman here to help sort things out,” Fiore noted. The cost to attend the Breakfast Club is $18 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor of the August Breakfast Club is the Altoona-Blair County Airport.

Chamber Seeking Fall InternsThe Blair County Chamber is accepting resumes for Fall internships from any college student majoring in Business Administration, Journalism, Marketing or Communications. Internships can be done for credit or non-credit. Send resume to Linda Stotler at lstotler@blairchamber.com.

Healthy Blair County Coalition , ABCD Conducting Needs AssessmentHealthy Blair County Coalition, in partnership with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation, is conducting a community economic needs assessment. Surveys are being sent to a variety of groups asking for help in completing the Community Economic Needs Assessment Survey to learn more about the strengths and issues that impact business. Please go to the link below and complete the survey through the internet on survey monkey no later than August 21, 2015. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and the questions ask for specific responses that will be compiled into a database for purposes of ascertaining volume and trends. Individual responses will be kept confidential. This information will not be used to solicit businesses or to encourage participation in projects or programs undertaken by any of the participating organizations. The survey can be accessed by clicking on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NNXR32.

Informational Meeting on China Trip is August 25thBack by popular demand is the Blair County Chamber’s trip to China. The nine-day excursion will take place from April 7-16, 2016 and will once again be conducted through Citslinc. The price remains incredible at $2199 (including flights, meals and all accommodations at 5-star hotels.) The only significant change from the three previous Chamber trips is that the flight originates at Dulles Airport instead of JFK – a real plus to our travelers. Travel to Dulles from Altoona and back are included as part of the trip. The Chamber will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. To register for that meeting, call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.

Still Time to Register for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise The Blair County Chamber is heading to Europe in late Fall for its first-ever river cruise. The cruise is being done in cooperation with Heritage Travel. The special wine-themed “5-River European Cruise” will depart from the Chamber Office in the Devorris Center for Business Development on November 3rd, will fly from Dulles International Airport for an overnight flight to Prague and will return on November 13th from Paris. The trip will include one-night sightseeing stays at 5-star hotels in both Prague and Paris with the river cruise in-between. The Chamber trip will feature excursions on the Vistava, Main, Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers via Avalon Waterways “Visionary,” considered the finest river vessel in Europe. The Visionary accommodates just 128 guests. Brochures on the 5-River European Cruise are available at the Chamber Office and at Heritage Travel. Call (814) 946-1600 for more information.
Backbone Bash is August 21st at Park Hills Golf ClubThe next Chamber “Backbone Bash” will have a new location in 2015. The popular event, labeled “a laid-back celebration for small businesses,” will take place at Tavern 27, located in Park Hills Golf Club. The date is Friday, August 21st from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The cost to attend is just $10/person and includes a casual cookout, beverages, a putting contest, karaoke, a photo booth, backyard games, great music and plenty of door prizes. Any Chamber Member whose business employs less than 50 people is eligible to attend. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.Blue Card DiscountsTo see a complete listing of the Blue Card discounts available, please click here. To have an offer listed, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. There is no fee to offer and have a discount listed.

For more information, visit the websiteTo subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.